In 2016, Donald Trump got around 37% of the vote from members of labor unions. He actually out-performed Mitt Romney in this regard suggesting that his faux pro-worker rhetoric hit its mark. Since then, he’s continued his attempts to appease union workers and convince them — despite a preponderance of evidence to the contrary — that he is on THEIR side and laughably not on the side of the corporations who work tirelessly to keep them as powerless and underpaid as possible.

Trump held one such event this week called “The Pledge to America’s Workers”. Below is a list who attended. Take a very close look at the list. Notice anything missing?

Yup: Workers.

Instead, Trump lined up some of the most anti-labor elected officials he could find — like notorious union-buster Wisconsin governor Scott Walker — and filled the room with representatives from the “trade groups” (another word for lobbyists) for a multitude of corporate interests. He even managed to get his daughter Ivanka to come, a woman whose fashion line is made by overseas workers.

Here are the attendees:

The White House
President Donald J. Trump
Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President
Chris Liddell, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Coordination
Andrew Bremberg, Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Today, in front of a large audience of American workers, companies, and Administration officials, President Trump will sign an Executive Order that establishes a National Council for the American Worker, an Interagency Council of Administration officials who will focus on crafting solutions to our country’s urgent workforce issues. The Council will be charged with developing a national strategy for ensuring Americans have access to affordable, relevant education and job training so that they are prepared for the jobs available today and jobs of the future.

Additionally, it will provide a platform for the private sector to sign a “Pledge to America’s Workers” and announce the creation of 500,000+ new opportunities for students and workers over the next five years including through apprenticeships and work-based learning, continuing education, and re-skilling. This initiative is following the publication of the DOL Apprenticeship Task Force’s report to the President on the need for more earn-and-learn and skills-focused job training opportunities for current and future workers. The events will reaffirm the President’s commitment to the American workforce and show that the Administration is taking concrete steps to ensure that Americans are able to fully participate in our booming economy.

You can see their “pledge” to American workers HERE. In it they pledge to “invest in the advancement of our current and future workforce by providing individuals with opportunities to develop skills” and to invest in “opportunities for education and training that will help more Americans thrive in the modern workplace … including through increased apprenticeships and work-based learning programs, continuing education, on-the-job training, and re-skilling.”

Nothing about improved wages. Nothing about decent benefits. Nothing about a good retirement package. Nothing about better working conditions. For these guys, it’s all about creating more efficient workers to enhance their bottom line and increase their profits. And they expect workers to be thankful for the privilege.

If you are a union member, it is critical that you understand that the Trump administration and Republicans in general are NOT on YOUR side. They are on the side of the corporations like Walmart and Lockheed Martin and the other attendees. Your vote for Trump and Republicans is a vote to cut your own throat when it comes to a job that provides you with a fair wage, good working conditions, good benefits, and the ability to retire with dignity. The corporatists who profit from your hard work are not about to cede any power or control to lowly workers like you.

And you should be sharing that truth with your Trump-supporting union brothers and sisters.

Author: EclectablogChris Savage is the owner and publisher of Eclectablog, your one-stop shop for progressive state & national political news & commentary.

Search for:

Help support nearly ad-free blogging at Eclectablog

With YOUR support, all regular contributors at Eclectablog are paid for their work. If you would like to send a check to avoid fees being taken out, send it to: Chris Savage, P.O. Box 32, Dexter, MI 48130. Otherwise, you can use this Paypal form:

Other Amount:

Want to make a recurring monthly donation? Enter the amount you want to pay each month:

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has admitted to knowing about the poisoning of Flint's drinking water with lead. Despite this, there are STILL Flint residents who cannot drink their tap water without the use of a water filter.

LOLGOP on Twitter

Subscribe to FREE email notifications!

Subscribe to or unsubscribe from free email notifications when new posts are posted.Leave This Blank:Leave This Blank Too:Do Not Change This:

Your email:

Subscribe to a free email daily digest

If you'd like to receive one email per day with a list of all the previous day's posts, click HERE. NOTE: If you were subscribed prior to October 2016, you will need to resubscribe. This service is free.

Mitchell Robinson is associate professor and chair of music education at Michigan State University. His research is focused on music education and education policy. Follow him on Facebook HERE and Twitter at @mrobmsu. His own blog is at MitchellRobinson.net.

Susan J. Demas is a Democratic strategist, serving as vice president at Farough & Associates. She is a 17-year veteran of journalism and a syndicated political columnist for 12 years. She was most recently the editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics. Follow her on Twitter @sjdemas.

Tawana “Honeycomb” Petty is a mother, social justice organizer, youth advocate, poet and author. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and is intricately involved in water rights, digital justice and visionary organizing work in Detroit. You can learn more about Tawana "Honeycomb" Petty by visiting honeycombthepoet.com. Follow her on Twitter at @CombsThePoet.

Ammara Ansari is a Masters in Public Policy student at University of Michigan. She is a board member of the Canton Democratic Club and Finance Director for Megan Cavanagh for Supreme Court. Find her on twitter at @AmmaraAnsari16